It’s Saturday, Aug 15—my older brother’s birthday—and while I’m wishing him all the best, I’m also celebrating by attempting to revive a piece of machinery we personally abandoned in Ireland like a forgotten gym membership.

We bought our outboard new in 2020 and used it constantly throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean. It was a hero back then—started easily, ran smoothly, didn’t complain, didn’t ask for snacks.

Then came June 2022. We crossed the Atlantic, arrived in Kinsale, Ireland, used it a few times to go ashore… and simply never used the outboard again. No dramatic breakdown. No final voyage. We just stopped. The gasoline in the tank has been aging ever since, transforming into something between archaeological exhibit and chemical cautionary tale.

Today, we finally decided to see if the old thing still remembered how to be an engine.

Moment of truth:

It started.
It also immediately filed a series of complaints.

It won’t idle. It won’t go into reverse. And it only runs with the choke on—like a Victorian child who needs smelling salts to stay conscious. Without idle, I can’t shift it into gear, so right now it’s less “outboard motor” and more “interactive museum display about neglect.”

My working theories:

• Carburetor jet fouled
• The fuel is less “gasoline” and more “aromatic historical artifact.”
• The shifting problem is something else entirely, possibly emotional

For now, the outboard has rejoined the cast of characters aboard Shanti: quirky, temperamental, and absolutely part of the adventure. Whether it returns to glory or becomes a decorative conversation piece remains to be seen.

Stay tuned—this saga is not finished.

Update 9-2-2026

In Preveza I emptied all the old fuel into a waste fuel bin. I partially filled the outboard tank with fresh fuel. While in Kefalonia at a local chandlery, I was able to secure some spray carburetor cleaner. I also picked up some shackles, but that’s another story.

Today, we put the dinghy in the water and mounted the motor. After wearing out my arms and straining a muscle, the outboard fired up. I sprayed amounts of cleaner into the carburetor while simultaneously closing the choke to force the cleaner through the main jet nozzle. After several cycles of choke off, spray cleaner, rev up it seemed like it was getting better. But, it sill would not idle with choke off. I continued cycles of cleaning.

Eventually, it seemed like it was on the mend so I closed the lid and disembarked to run around the bay at full tilt boogie. And, as luck would have it, the carburetor began its slow decline back to inoperability.

So, I’ve established the problem is definitely the main jet is fouled with bad fuel.

More to come . . .